Open-air film festivals give attendees more eating options

What's better than dinner and a movie, especially when the movie is free? Two of Baltimore's most popular outdoor film series have stepped up the eating options for movie attendees.

The American Visionary Art Museum is kicking off its annual Flicks From the Hill tonight with a premiere party in the museum's Tall Sculpture Barn with food from C&R Pub, Two Boots Pizza, SoBo Cafe, Candi Cakes and Chipotle and beer donated by Max's Taphouse. The party, which also includes disc jockey entertainment, is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20. Then, it's off to watch hill to watch "West Side Story."

Chipotle will be at every screening this year, giving away free chips and salsa to the first 50 attendees. Two Boots and SoBo Cafe will sell food before and during most screenings at this year's series, which runs through Aug. 22.

And at this year's Little Italy's Open Air Film Festival, members of the Original Little Italy Restaurant Association, the event's host, are offering special movie menu items from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees can assemble an al fresco dinner of things like a Chiapparelli's salad ($6), a mozzarella and tomato sub ($5) from Da Mimmo, a Roma sausage sub ($6) from Sabatino's and "chip and dip" ($4) - cannoli pastry chips and filling -- from Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop. Colombo Bank is providing the free popcorn.

The Little Italy Open Air Film Festival resumes on Friday night with Woody Allen's "To Rome With Love."